Injured defensemen did not play against Panthers with season on brink
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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Sean Walker and Jalen Chatfield did not play for the Carolina Hurricanes in a 3-0 win against the Florida Panthers in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Final at Amerant Bank Arena on Monday.
Both defensemen also missed Game 3 on Saturday, a 6-2 loss, because of undisclosed injuries.
Carolina trails 3-1 in the best-of-7 series.
Walker briefly skated in the morning skate and warmups on Saturday, but it was determined he wasn’t healthy enough to play. His injury might be a result of a hit from Panthers forward A.J. Greer during the second period of Game 2. Walker did not play in the third period.
Chatfield has missed five straight games, having last played May 12. He was in warmups prior to Game 2 but did not play.
Walker has three points (one goal, two assists) and is averaging 18:24 of ice time in 12 Stanley Cup Playoff games. Chatfield has one goal and is plus-6 while averaging 20:24 of ice time in nine games.
With Chatfield and Walker unavailable, the Hurricanes played both rookie defensemen Alexander Nikishin and Scott Morrow for the second straight game.
Nikishin, who stood out to coach Rod Brind’Amour in what was his second NHL game in Game 3, had the primary assist on Logan Stankoven’s goal at 10:45 of the second period that gave the Hurricanes the 1-0 lead in Game 4.
“In general, I think teams build from their defense out; it’s the most important position other than goaltending is to have that cohesive group back there,” Brind’Amour said Monday. “It’s something we’ve had over the years really, really locked down and when you lose a couple of guys that are so important to that and are throwing in guys that haven’t played at this level, you’re asking a lot.
“We’re going to go back this summer and [when] you get in the playoffs you’ve got to make sure you probably have a little more depth in that spot, just because it’s not fair to put those guys in that situation. Having said that, they’ve done a great job. … Nikishin the other night, I was really proud of him how from one game to the next the change was something good. I think we’ve got a good one there. And Morrow hung in there, too, so good on those guys.”
FLA vs. CAR | EDM vs. DAL
FLA vs. TOR | CAR vs. WSH | DAL vs. WPG | EDM vs. VGK
OTT vs. TOR | FLA vs. TBL | MTL vs. WSH | NJD vs. CAR
STL vs. WPG | COL vs. DAL | MIN vs. VGK | EDM vs. LAK
